Judge's decision expected Feb. 14

Next month a judge will decide the fate of a local woman accused of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death.

The judge will cast judgement, on Feb. 14, against Shelby Zielski-Thibault, who is facing a host of allegations including manslaughter in connection with the death of Aaron Rushlow.

A trial was held for Zielski-Thibault last week with the judge reserving judgement until Feb. 14.

In Dec. 2016 police charged Zielski-Thibault, then 18, with criminal negligence causing death, dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death and breaching probation.

Police reports indicate Rushlow, of Belleville, died in Kingston General Hospital in October 2016 after he was found lying injured on Walmsley Place, east of Avondale Road, where it appeared he’d been struck by a vehicle.

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A February preliminary hearing date has been set for Belleville tattoo artist accused of a number of sex-related charges, including 11 counts of sexual assault linked to his city tattoo parlour.

Court officials confirmed Feb. 23 is the date scheduled for the courts to test the allegations levied against Kenneth Wayne Melvin, 47, who is facing charges including numerous counts of sexual assault and committing an indecent act, triggered by what police say was a complaint received in March 2017, regarding a local businessman who allegedly assaulted a female patron while she was receiving services.

Melvin, who operated Skin Graffix Tattooing and Piercing on Dundas Street East, is also facing criminal harassment and sexual touching.

Preliminary hearings are conducted to test if there is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial on all charges before the court. At its conclusion, the accused could be committed to stand trial on all, none or some of the charges. None of the accusations against Melvin have been proven in court.

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The case of Tweed man accused of murder has reached the preliminary hearing stage.

Samuel Koch, 36, who is facing a second-degree murder charge, will be up for preliminary hearing starting Feb. 26.

Koch was originally charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 53-year-old Dartt MacPherson, but the Crown opted to proceed with a lesser charge of second-degree murder. MacPherson was found dead at home on Kinlin Road in Tweed, on Aug. 12.

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A 16-year-old boy charged in connection with a fiery Highway 401 crash that killed a 30-year-old woman, in August 2017, will be brought back to court Feb. 9.

Police revealed a pickup truck, being driven by a 16-year-old male from Belleville, was travelling westbound in the eastbound lanes and collided with an eastbound vehicle, in the area of Cannifton Road and mile marker 544, on Highway 401’s eastbound lanes.

A 30-year-old woman from Loyalist Township was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named pursuant to the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), is charged with manslaughter, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and theft over $5,000 of a motor vehicle.